"During national service, I was also going through a rough time as my family was facing some problems.

"I had a bad break-up and I tore my shoulder ligament. It felt like everything in my life was going wrong."

To cheer him up, one of his friends took him to 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger, the first Marvel film Mr Tay had ever watched.

He recalled: "I wasn't really looking forward to it because when I watched the cartoons, Captain America struck me as a funny character with two wings sticking out from his head."

Little did he know that the funny character would change his life.

"When the movie started, I was struck by it," he said. "It was so relatable because Rogers was skinny and he was being body-shamed, bullied and insulted, much like I've been my entire life.

"He also had an inferiority complex and a low self-esteem, which reminded me of myself then."

Mr Tay said he used to be bullied in secondary school. His bullies would hold him by the collar and press him against a wall. They also wrapped book straps around his neck.

During NS, his bunkmates would make fun of his every move.

He said: "I wanted to be just like Rogers when he stepped out of that body-transforming machine.

"There was so much going on in my head when I saw how he transformed and began to help people yet he remained humble and grounded. That really inspired me.

"I thought if I could change physically, I could achieve greater things."

Mr Tay's shoulder injury hindered him from changing his lifestyle immediately, so he started with changing his diet and moved on to exercising four months later after getting approval from his doctors.

"I bought 10kg dumbbells to work out in the bunk," he said.

"I didn't go to the gym because I was afraid people would taunt me or laugh at me, so I did push-ups while carrying my field pack filled with the dumbbells."

His efforts paid off. He emerged champion in his height and age category in the Singapore Fitness Model Search - PhysiqueWar 2015.

OPTIMISTIC

"Captain America is optimistic and this trait rubbed off on me. He is also morally upright and kind, which I hope to be," said Mr Tay.

In Captain America: Civil War, former allies Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) end up on opposing sides due to differing opinions.

Rogers believes superheroes should be allowed to work without regulation while Tony Stark supports government supervision.

Mr Tay, who is obviously on #TeamCap, concedes there will be "some kind of off-screen rivalry" among fans. "There will be those who would say, 'Iron Man is better because he's smarter and richer,' and I'd love to argue back.

"For me, Captain America is more handsome, fitter, bigger, kinder, more loyal to the girl he loves, and an excellent tactician in a fight.

"I will always tell Iron Man fans they are gold-diggers who like witty guys.

"But the banter will be just for fun."

"When the movie started, I was struck by it. Rogers was skinny and he was being body-shamed, bullied and insulted, much like I've been my entire life."

Helmet with 'A' on it started it all

OBSESSED: Mr Ong Chee Kong has a collection of Captain America items, including four suits, five shields and six helmets. TNP PHOTO:TRACY LOW

In 2012, he went to a costume rental shop to find something to wear for his company's annual dinner and dance event.

One ensemble, with the letter A on its helmet, caught his attention immediately.

Although he was not sure which superhero it represented, he decided to take it home anyway.

Civil servant Ong Chee Keong, 31, went on to rent the same costume two more times for other work events as it was a big hit with his colleagues.

COLLECTION

Today, Mr Ong boasts a collection that includes four suits, five shields, six helmets, comic books and figurines.

He has spent about $20,000 on his collectibles. His first full suit cost $3,000 and took six months to be shipped from the US.

Mr Ong also started cosplaying and taking part in competitions as Captain America.

He said: "In three years, I got pretty obsessed with Captain America memorabilia.

"I was never a Marvel fan. I hadn't watched any of the movies and did not know any of the superheroes before I rented that first costume, but there was just something about it and being in it that made me feel like the best version of myself.

"I then began to do my research and found out the costume is that of Captain America's. That's when I started to watch the movies and realise that the man in the suit was inspirational.

"His beliefs, principles and values were very much in line with mine and I immediately felt connected to the character."